Model minority

The term model minority refers to a minority group, defined by factors such as ethnicity, race, or religion, whose members are perceived to be achieving a higher socioeconomic status in comparison to other minority groups or the population at large. The term is also referred to as the model minority myth because it is understood as a racialized social construct that frames certain minority groups as comparatively successful, culturally adaptable, and morally disciplined while promoting stereotypes that are ultimately harmful.

Model minorities are often regarded as a role model or reference group for comparison to other groups. Their perceived success is typically assessed through metrics including educational attainment, representation within managerial and professional occupations, household income, and various other socioeconomic indicators such as criminal activity and strong family and marital stability. Asian Americans in the United States are prominently associated with this concept. Analogous concepts of classism have been observed in numerous European countries, leading to the stereotyping of specific ethnic groups. Socioeconomically successful minority groups often share notable parallels, suggesting that their patterns of achievement are closely shaped by distinct historical experiences and sociocultural contexts.

The concept of the model minority has generated controversy due to its historical application to suggest that economic intervention by governments is unnecessary to address socioeconomic disparities among particular racial groups. The model minority concept has been traced back to the Civil Rights Movement in the United States during the late-1950s to 1960s as an antithesis to African American claims of racial discrimination, oppression, and systemic barriers that impeded upward social mobility. The concept was employed to draw contrasts between Asian Americans (particularly those of East and some South Asian origins) and Jewish Americans in comparison to African Americans and Indigenous peoples. Consequently, this perpetuates the propagation of a 'model minority myth', asserting that Asian and Jewish Americans are exemplary law-abiding and productive citizens or immigrants, while concurrently reinforcing the stereotype that Indigenous and African American communities are predisposed to criminal behavior and dependent on welfare. With the turn of the 21st century, the model minority myth has been widely criticized as oversimplistic and misleading, operating as a form of racial bordering—used to justify discriminatory policies, systemic barriers, and neglect marginalized communities.